The institute was initially housed in the Old Town Hall, and later received temporary accommodation in the Indian Army Headquarters, which was also then based in Shimla.

The Centre for Strategic Studies and Simulation (CS3) is focused on conducting research and analyses on national and international security issues.

Courses Section (Coaching for Professional Military Education) Colonel Pyara Lal Memorial Library (Information Resource Centre) of USI is a knowledge hub in the area of Defence Studies/Services, Strategic Perspective, War/Warfare, Conflict/Peace Studies/United Nation, Foreign/International Relations/Diplomacy, Continent /Countries studies, National/ International Security, Insurgency/Naxalism/Terrorism, Nuclear Issues, General/ Academic/ Historical Studies and Autobiography/Biography/Memoires/ Travelite.

It is a highly specialised library for enhancing and enriching knowledge while concurrently facilitating education, research, training, self-development, well-being, and lifelong learning.

A full spectrum of ever-expanding body of worldwide knowledge and information superiority is maintained by acquiring, and furthering ease of access to books, manuscripts, and other print and non-print materials and preserving these for the benefit of the members.

Keeping in view the convenience of its patrons, the library is located on the ground floor of United Service Institution of India, New Delhi and is air-conditioned.